26th-Z

Mike, The top manual in my picture is the original that came with 26th. I know that car the best and can vouch for originality of period. It was imported into Jacksonville and delivered in May of 1970. At one time, I heard that 26th was actually bought from an Arizona dealer to satisfy the order for the car in Sarasota, but that doesn't make any sense because I have the import papers. The two manuals are identical for the full 40 pages and the bottom pictured manual has four extra consumer information pages glued into the back of the manual. They are not part of the original binding. No, neither manual has the hand throttle paragraph masked. The drawings are pretty remarkable to the oddities of the early cars. The mirror is referenced to the red dot. There is no reference to a rear hatch demister. The console drawing shows the blank plates for the switch. The 1970 owner's manual was reproduced for the Vintage Z program in 1996. I would like to have one. I have a reprint 1971 to trade.

Confirmed from me. Issue date 20 December 1969 with different pictures of the 240Z on the covers.

I just clicked on Les Cannaday's site http://www.classicdatsun.com/ The picture of the seat covers has them. Vent buttons would be a good name. I haven't ordered any from Les. Do they NOT come with the vents?

Yes. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. offered a vinyl (black) "landau" roof covering. Part number D4160-00003, leather top, and superceded by D4160-00016, leather top (black). The funny thing I find about the eBay ad is that all this is described as a "sport package" and none of it contributes to the performance of the car. I would think it would be better described as luxury!

There was no official "sport package" option offered by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Nissan did have a Sports Option Catalog with various components available in America through the competition department of Datsun. Nissan also had a number of options available on a limited basis in America including the vinyl landau top application. See item 7 on the photo. Nissan never offered side molding - that's dealer installed aftermarket - or bumper bars. The most common bumper bar was sold by AMCO.

Will, Perhaps I'll box up the library and bring it up for show-n-tell. Let me know if you finalize on Friday. I have stuff that I have been meaning to give to Carl, too. Carl, you coming to this?

This show is supposed to be a pretty nifty deal. From what I hear, the Nissan dealer, Autoway Nissan of Clearwater, is providing the whole schmere, doing one of those radio live remotes, big promotion. Hey all you Florida Z owners! Z PARTY ! Florida Z Association presents ROAD TO THE Z CONVENTION open carshow Sponsored by Autoway Nissan of Clearwater Saturday, July 14, 2007 Rain or shine! If you are preparing your Z for judging at the 2007 Convention in Daytona Beach or just want to show your Nissan for fun, come out and join us for this people’s choice car show. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and judging will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., with trophies being presented at approximately 3:00 p.m. There will be food, refreshments, music, and lots of great cars! *Tech sessions will be going on throughout the day, including judging seminars and detailing classes. Judging seminars will address the guidelines being used at the convention car show. *Certified Nissan service techs will be available to answer your questions. *For an additional fee, you will be able to get your car detailed, your oil changed or even dyno your car. Judging Categories: 240Z, 260Z, 280Z (S30) 280ZX (S130) 300ZX (Z31) 300ZX (Z32) 350Z (Z33) Nissan other Datsun other $20.00 Pre-registration/$25.00 day of show. Visit www.flza.com to register. For additional information, contact Jim Peters at kpeters5@tampabay.rr.com or Rob Tyner at robtyner1@yahoo.com Autoway Nissan of Clearwater 13600 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760 727-507-3252

Hey Will! Maybe we'll get some time to drink a beer and chat. I'm supposed to be conducting two judging orientation seminars during the day. Vicky is coming with ZRush. Should be a bunch of fun. If you are coming down Friday night, perhaps I'll come up early and meet you. Don't worry about the Volvo. You can park it next to my BMW!

I just sent an e-mail to Carl with a heads-up to this thread. Carl is probably the best direction to start with if you haven't talked with him already.

Years later, months later, decades later...I don't know, Alan. It's all a blur to me.

Pictures, as promised, from Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at Constant Perfection's in New Port Richey, Florida

Carl! Give me credit on the photo! You look marvelous, I must say!

I don't know, but I this conversation is beginning to sound like an historical conversation some time in the future about the invention of the cell phone attributed to 1930's **** Tracy two-way wrist radios. Call me a snob, but I'm having a hard time relating to a comic book as historical documentation. Enough said. I did have the pleasure of meeting and taking with Yoshihiko Matsuo in Long Beach at the ZCCA convention in 2004. Very interesting guy and I relate to him very well as a designer for that is my profession also. Designers talk with drawings and use whatever media is available at the moment. Here are some sketches on the back of an envelope concerning the hidden hinge for the rear hatch and the hatch strut which I was told was adapted from the French Mirage fighter jet. Years later, Matsuo san visited London on his way to the Frankfurt Auto Show (as I recall) and met with Alan and Len. Len sent me scans of their conversation which include this drawing of the headlight housing fender extension. I have a bunch of other sketches, photographs of the prototype and notes from Matsuo san. Kats gives me odd and ends to keep for my collection of stuff only a designer would appreciate. I guess in that respect you might delight in my collection of Paul Rudolf, Victor Lundy, Edgar Tafel drawings. I have some Frank Lloyd Wright originals as well, although I never met the man. I do not believe the fibers in FRP are glass. No, FRP is not equal to fiberglass. I DO know that the material and manufacturing technique is attributed to Finnish architect / designer Eero Saarinen. Look him up on the internet – post World War II furniture design and manufacture. Saarinen is famous for the Knoll Furniture “tulip” design.

In 1969, the technology didn't exist to press the sugar scoop fender extension for the headlights in metal and if I remember correctly, the metal fender extensions are two piece welded. The technology that was used to make the original headlight bucket (or fender extension) was fairly cutting edge at the time. The material is really fiber reinforced plastic - FRP - the same technique and material used for outdoor seating. The company that made the prototypes for the S30 was in the business of manufacturing stadium seating at the time.

Yes. Please be patient. I still use film and the roll isn't finished.

I try so hard to keep names out of internet conversations with respect to the cars and collections we are talking about hoping to not offend anyone. None-the-less, we are talking about the same guy, Doug and Chris. Arnie, I am referring to the Z restoration program. Some people say 38 cars were restored. I have a hand written note from Pete Evanow saying 42 cars were done. I'm still up in the air about exact figures and still collect information about the program and the cars when I find it. I wrote a book about the program and with some more work and luck hope to publish it some day.

Yesterday afternoon, I drove two hours up to New Port Richey to visit my Z friends and mark the arrival of HLS30-00017. As I commented previously, 17th was found in the Chicago are where she was living in a grain silo? for the last fifteen years. The new owner was introduced to a restoration shop in New Port Richey several months ago and he decided to have the car restored there. The afternoon was a small meeting of the low VIN club. Four members were in attendance and we were graced by one of the most famous Z show cars, ZRush. One of our attendees drove his Fairlady ZL; the first time I have seen the car run. What struck me most and brought to mind this conversation was how much attention the Fairlady received. Of course, we all drooled over ZRush as we always do. Vicky’s car is stunning if you never seen it. But I was amazed with how much time we spent looking at the RHD example and comparing it to our experiences with our American versions. I sat in the car with the new owner of 17th and chatted about our experiences with restoration and the costs involved. We made several comments about how difficult it would be to restore a Japanese version of the Z in America. I thought I would share the experience with you guys and girls as I encourage you all to think globally when you talk about our loved Zs. The Z is a fascinating design; made for both left and right hand drive from the very beginning. We may like to think specifically about value for one particular model, but the thought is far from complete without considering the entire range of models – the whole family. Some may argue that we are simply talking about #51 or #305 in this thread, but consider the value that has been added to our collective knowledge by the comments made from those who know other models, other countries, other restoration practices and sales values. Finally, it has come to my attention that approximately 18% of the Vintage Zs are now owned by one collector. I saw this happen many years ago when one collector controlled the majority of AC Cobras. I witnessed the price of Cobras jump from $5,000 to $40,000 over night, it seems. Prepare to see the same with Vintage Zs.

Hey Will, I just used the #17 story as an example of of how "un-rare" these early cars are. I was amazed to hear about it. At the risk of offending the owner, I'm attaching this non-descript, taken in anyone's garage photo. As you can see, it needs to be restored. A deal was struck during an introduction a few months ago and the car will be coming to a shop up in the Tampa area for the work. The guy who is doing the work is the same guy who did ZRush and the Scarab. He uses the same dipping place in Wauchula that I use. Thus the story. I'm hoping to see the body shell later this week.

I'm not taking possession of HLS30U-00017, Will. Just visiting.

Thank you Alan for bringing up a point that has not been considered. Perhaps we miss the point that there are collector S30s out there that far exceed in value what we have been discussing up to now. Carl is having a debate of opinion over the cars commonly available in the United States and offering his experience of what has been trading and the values associated. Within that realm, he has commented about the current market for collector Z cars in the American market with insight and knowledge which I cannot argue with. Let's keep in mind that the Z has not even hit the radar screen of the showboat extravaganza we see on our television screens. Back to the original premise; we are discussing what two unrestored, almost junk, low VIN HLS30Us are worth on eBay now and what their potential value might be some day. Although I have never seen the cars, I have heard about them from people who have and I know the seller as well. My opinion is that the asking price is very high, however I see no reason to diss someone for asking. For that matter, if anyone wants to give me $10,000 for 27th, I'll throw in a bottle of the finest tequilla money can buy. This conversation is a moving target. We cannot establish fact; only comment on observation. We should keep that in mind. The four shops were: Pierre Z - primary contractor Classic Datsun Motorsports Datsun Alley Old Car Service

Nissan contracted with four shops. Carl, Yes that's the plan. Vicky said something like Wednesday the 27th.

I don't know if this is general knowledge in the Z community, but 17th just traded and she is headed my way for a bath in the great revivation spas of Wauchula, Florida. Her Majesty heard that she was involved in some escort service in Chicago and was pretty ragged out. She was evidently bought and paid for by some wealthy Southern gentleman who is going to fix all her imperfections of age and return her to her glorious beauty. That makes three of these low VINs recently trading. Greetings Enrique and Ron! I liked your comments. I would agree with an expression like "once in a lifetime" dependent on the perspective as Enrique pointed out. The car is only worth (ever) what someone is willing to pay for it. Will these cars be worth $50,000? I hope so. I think that when we are talking about spending $40,000 on restoring a car like this, it depends on how it is being restored. I think that sum includes hiring someone to do the work. I don't think I'm going to have that much money in my cars. I know 26th will be less, but I'm doing a lot of the work. "Restoration" does not necessarily mean "parts replacement". We have been fortunate to see authentic original parts circulating in the past few years and it is true that this source is drying up. However, restoration does include the concept of restoring the original part. Much controversy exists in the restoration world about what is referred to as "original patina". Then there is the concept of remanufacturing an original part. What I see fighting the market for value in the low VIN models is the sheer number of examples. I am amazed that these cars even exist and are still being found...much less restored. What has me slightly concerned is the idea that these cars are not so rare and how many of them are being restored.

Thanks Jim! The organizers of the ZCCA convention car show (Daytona - October) asked me to hold a judging orientation workshop during this show. We are looking for people who want to judge the convention show and getting an organizational meeting together. I know we have had many discussions about ZCCA judging on this site. For all of you interested, I will be at the show with ZRush and will be talking about judging at the convention. See you July 14th in Clearwater!

Shekhar Mehta born in Nairobi on this day, 1945 Shekhar Mehta, the only 5-time winner of the Safari Rally, was born in Nairobi, Kenya. The most grueling rally race in the world, the Safari originated in '53 at the behest of the Royal East African Automobile Association. East African racing clubs had maintained an interest in running an international rally event ever since the road from Nairobi to Johannesburg had become a popular route for endurance tests during the '30s. Logistical problems prevented plotting a race course form Nairobi to Johannesburg. In '53, in an unstable Kenya, the Royal East African Auto Club organizers seized on the idea of a race that would remain entirely in East Africa. A race course starting & finishing in Nairobi & circumnavigating Lake Victoria was considered ideal. Racing enthusiasts gathered support for the plan by suggesting that the race be held in honor of Queen Elizabeth's 6/2 coronation. The idea was approved by colonial authorities, & the race was on. Since that inaugural race, the Safari has become one of the world's premier rally races. Initially running thru the east African nations of Kenya, Tanzania, & Uganda, today the Safari is limited to Kenya for political sovereignty issues. The longest Safari Rally ever, Mehta's debut race in '71, covered 3,852 miles of unpaved paths & open country. The event covers land at altitudes ranging from sea level to 10,000' above sea level. In '71, 107 cars began the race & only 32 finished. Mehta won his 1st Safari Rally in '73, becoming the 2nd Kenyan to claim the title. He dominated the event in the late '70s & early '80s, winning 4 Safaris in a row w/navigator Mike Doughty guiding their Nissan/Datsun. Mehta died in 2006.

The pictures remind me of the ad and auction for 27th. I would imagine 305 is in better shape than 27th, but by comparison for the price conversation, 27th was sold at around $2,200 and I got offers for twice that in the days following my purchase.